Whereas Intelligence is received that the Inhabitants of Pensylvania in open Rebellion against the King have been for some time past preparing a Number of Armed Graft, in the form of Floating Batteries for the purpose of annoying and attacking His Majesty's Ships that may be sent into that River, and that they have also prepared and Sunk in the Channel of the River, Machines for obstructing the Navigation, And the Earl of Suffolk having transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the particulars of the aforesaid Intelligence; (Copies of which you will receive herewith) You are hereby required and directed, to do your utmost to destroy those Floating Batteries, and to Weight up or otherwise render useless the Machines sunk in the Channel of the said River, vrith a view to Obstruct the Navigation thereof.

Given under my hand on board His Majesty's Ship Chatham off Boston 17th January 1776.

By Command of the Admiral E. Bragge